Athena Staik, Ph.D., LMFT

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Quality parent-child relationships are ones that are mutually enriching and promote the emotional, mental growth of children and parents alike. Parents often need skills to gain the cooperation and mutual respect of their children, to be more effecting correcting problem behaviors. They need to know how to create an environment for emotionally safe, positive and open communications -- which builds healthy relationships. Therapy can support parents to set firm limits yet avoid punitive tactics, resolving conflicts in ways that empower children to cooperate and parents to transform conflict into growth and trust, and motive children to willingly contribute and maximize potential.

Michelle Kelley, LCSW

Licensed Counselor

At Girls Stand Strong we specialize in working with pre-teen and teen girls. Low self-esteem, friendship problems, dating and school stress can make a girl miserable (at home and at school). We also work with mothers of young children to support them through parenting and finding the balance in their lives. We would love to hear from you.

Kristin Rosenthal, MA, LPC

Licensed Professional Counselor

Helping young children takes building a collaborative relationship with the parents, and offering parental guidance. We assess the developmental tasks and needs of that child, and sometimes suggest child-centered play therapy or play therapy. We also offer Sand-tray therapy, which allows children to show us their inner worlds in images and motion. EMDR can be helpful with building inner resources and over-coming traumatic experiences, such as medical procedures. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, we look at children’s problems in the context of their whole lives. Sometimes helping parents learn to play with and understand the meaning of their children’s actions is the magic.